FEATURE SHOW
Saturday, March 16, 8 p.m.
The Trigger System presents Pinback, JP Inc. @ Canal Club - $15.00 Advance http://thecanalclub.com/online_ticket_center.htm / $18 door
Since 1998, San Diego’s Pinback have been an influential indie rock band. Touring in support of their newest LP Information Retrieved, founding members Rob Crow and Armistead ‘Zach’ Smith will be bringing their highly regarded live show down by the Kanawha Canal this Saturday night--and everyone in Richmond just has to be there. Pinback has not lost a step through the years; in fact they have quietly garnered highly favorable reviews for Information Retrieved. For those fans of Pinback’s early work from the LP’s Blue Screen Life, Summer in Abaddon, and Autumn of the Seraphs, Pinback has been playing tracks from all of these LPs on their latest tour. This is a big time show, and to see Pinback up close and personal in the friendly confines of the Canal Club can only be described as an absolute miracle.
Wednesday, March 13, 8 p.m.
Justin Jones, Rachel Kate, Russell Lacy, Scott Burton @ The Camel - $8/18+
Looking for that saloon music that everyone needs in their life, especially residents of Blackwell? Here it is in full. The multi-talented Virginia native Justin Jones is climbing the ladder of success with great speed as he taunts us into a frenzy with his self-apprised mountain soul rock music, which only an out of the box singer-songwriter such as Jones can deliver. Jones is a guy that is on the cusp of pure unadulterated stardom. To me, he’s already there.
Currently encompassing the southeast and mid-Atlantic on the “I Can Feel It” tour, Jones has been unstoppable. After suffering a broken rib a month back, Jones only had to cancel a couple of shows down South. Thank goodness the Camel show is not cancelled--it will just prove how tough Justin Jones is, and how it’s always about the music. Justin Jones is about music above all else, and that’s why we love him.
Power folk singer-songwriter Rachel Kate, out of Nashville, the most overated city in America, is on tour with Justin Jones, and is a pistol of an artist if there ever was one. By the way, if I see, hear, or write about one more female guitarist/vocalist with ‘Kate’ as the last name, I’m going to drown myself in my bathtub. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Rachel Kate’s music--actually quite the contrary--it’s just somebody, somewhere, said that all girl singers currently have to have the last name of Kate. Or, is it just me? Anyway, this show is going to rock you like a typhoon. Sorry, hurricane was taken.
Locals Russell Lacy and Scott Burton open this gig with their music of course, but will also open their hearts. If you miss this show, you are pathetic.
Thursday, March 14, 10 p.m.
Galaxy Dynamite @ City Dogs in the Fan– Price at door/21+
Norfolk’s Galaxy Dynamite is a psychedelic surf/trance band I have been monitoring for a year or so now. The reason: this band is as entertaining as they come. Despite having only being around for three years, this band, popular with the electronic jam genre, do it professionally. They are the king-of-snake kind of music that infiltrates your gut and will have you grooving with the stars. Having a quality hot dog and enjoying music that will take you places has never been more enthusiastic. Be at City Dogs, the one in the Fan, tonight, and you will set yourself free.
Friday, March 15, 8 p.m.
Sony and WVCW present: A free screening of the new music documentary Sound City– Directed by Dave Grohl @ Sound of Music Studios (209 N. Foushee St.) – Free/All Ages
Not really a live music event, but it’s a given that I'd include this. Sound City, directed by Virginia native Dave Grohl, is the documentary everyone is talking about. To see it free at the lovely Sound of Music Studios in Monroe Ward... I mean, how awesome is that?
Sony and VCU’s internet radio station, WVCW, present the new music documentary Sound City. Sound City was a legendary recording studio in Los Angeles, responsible for some of the biggest records of the 80s and 90s. Nirvana's Nevermind was recorded there as well as albums from Tom Petty and Guns 'N Roses. When the studio shut down, Dave Grohl bought up a bunch of the gear and made this movie. See you on Foushee St. Tonight. Oh yeah, by the way, William Foushee was Richmond’s first Mayor from 1782-1783, although I doubt he’ll be at this screening tonight.
Friday, March 15, 7 p.m.
Richmond Burlesque Babies presents: Project Burly X– featuring a burlesque show extravaganza along with live music by Low On Sanity, Venal Flesh @ The Showplace (3000 Mechanicsville Turnpike) - $12.00 Advance - http://projectburlyx.eventbrite.com / $15.00 Day of Show/18+
There are shows and then there are events. Project Burly X, which is a party-of-the-century type event, is sure to please every ounce of your endorphins. In fact, it's sure to please Stefon, because this event has everything, featuring the edgiest burlesque performances that Richmond Burlesque Babies have put on to date. This underground Richmond burlesque sensation has teamed up with the dark electronic industrial Goth bands, Low on Sanity and Venal Flesh, along with many other forms of entertainment and cuisine to shake your taste buds and form a hybrid of stellar live entertainment. Think Mardi Gras meets the AVN Awards meets vaudeville, with Bela Lugosi and the roaring twenties thrown in.
The organizers thought of everything--there will even be tailgating outside before the show starts at 8pm. No, this isn’t a Tech or UVA football game; this will be tailgating minus the rednecks. The Tailgating will include food trucks such as Chupacabra, Monique's Crepes & Thai Cabin. For your entertainment as you pregame, there’ll be hoops girls galore thanks to the masked beauties, Lea Loveless and Lottie Ellington. Also, standup comedy--and plenty of it!
The highlights around this seminal event will be the burlesque of Binky Daze, "The Black Sheep Bad Girl of RVA Burlesque," Kimberly Kosmo, Miss Midnight, Melodie Magpie, Lilly Von Grimm, and DC’s Maki Rolle. The master of ceremonies for the evening will be none other than Chad from Wonderland, and of Richmond Luche Libre fame.
No gun show tonight at the Showplace for toothless Jesus freaks misinterpreting the Second Amendment; it is only burlesque, burlesque, burlesque!
* There will be a $225 VIP Limo Package (Party of 8-Limited QTY Available-All parties must be 21+ to participate No Exceptions – click here for info)
Friday, March 15, 8 p.m.
Nick Coward and the Last Battle (CD Release), Way Shape or Form, Snowy Owls @ The Camel - $5/18+
The folk rock from Nick Coward and the Last Battle is so good, and so indicative of what is right in Richmond music. I would put their new CD, Thieves, in a time capsule to be opened in 2113. Yes, Nick Coward’s music will easily stand the test of time, and be as poignant one hundred years from now as it is currently. I think Nick Coward has a world class voice, and for those who haven’t seen or heard this man, let me say this: You are an idiot! Nick Coward never messes around when it comes to his backing back, The Last Battle--they are a who’s who of Richmond's best musicians. These are the kind of musicians that teach music in schools, or should teach music in schools. Nick Coward’s hauntingly luminous, yet dark music penetrates everyone’s ears. There is a reason you never read bad reviews about Nick Coward, so don’t you think it’s time you see what all the fuss is about? And if you have seen Nick Coward and the Last Battle live, no matter how many times, well dammit, go see him again.
It’s only fitting that this seminal show, which just might be a Show of the Year candidate, has quality opening bands such as Way Shape or Form and Snowy Owls. Way Shape or Form are heavy high risers with experimental pop music to die for. Snowy Owls, oh my Duke’s Mayonnaise, Snowy Owls are a never ending dream of cats floating through space and time. Be the cat hoarder I know you can be, Richmond, and take in these lads.
Sunday, March 17, 8 p.m.
Wale @ The National– $32.50 Advance - ticketmaster.com / $40 Door / All Ages
It’s Wale, not whale. However, DC’s Wale is a whale of a performer. This 28 year old emcee is at the top of the game in regards to the world of mainstream hip hop. Wale draws from his childhood growing up in Nigeria and in Washington DC. It is no surprise that the roots of Nigerian music and the famous Go-Go style out of the DC clubs of the 70s and 80s can be heard in Wale’s unique style of hip hop.
Sundays have always been for hip hop, and I can’t think of a better hip hop show for those who continuously have Power 92 blaring from ear to ear every minute of every day. Forget four-leaf clovers, run, don’t walk, to the National tonight.
Monday, March 18, 6 p.m.
The Casualties, In Defence, Pissheads, Devil's Hand, Olde Shame @ Strange Matter - $10 Advance - $10 http://drunkpunx.eventbrite.com / $12 Day of / All Ages
For the best in the real hardcore punk rock music sound, look no further than New York City’s The Casualties. This incarnation of the Casualties includes founding member and vocalist Jorge Herrera. Having been doing it since the early 90s, Herrera exudes an electrifying stage presence that is the true epitome of punk rock. Punk rock can be construed in many ways, but for the seminal core of what the street sound, attitude, and look should be in punk, look straight ahead towards the Casualties. It doesn’t get more pissed off than this. For true punk aficionados, the Casualties have been the kind of second wave (perhaps third if you are old like me) punk band that spearheads a movement. If you are fans of the Misfits, Unseen, Leftover Crack or the Exploited, then do not miss this band. The Casualties are the perfect pain killer for those Monday after work doldrums. Let me also add that I encourage all underage kids to show up to this show to see how it is really done.
Minneapolis’ In Defence are on tour with the Casualties, and their version of thrash meets hardcore punk with leave you sweaty, bloody, and confused, all the while demanding more debauchery. Local drunks and raw punk lords, Pissheads, Devil’s Hand, and Olde Shame open this matinee from hell. Count me in, and I’ll see you there. Three chord riffs for everybody!
Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m.
Shaun Nicole’s 2 Turntables and a Mic Episode 3 @ The Camel - $10/All Ages
Sometimes when you have to dig deep to find a quality event centered on local live music, it just jumps up on a Tuesday and begs your attention. Shaun Nicole’s 2 Turntables & a Mic show is Richmond’s version of 106th & Park. It represents the true essence of Richmond’s underground hip hop culture. It’s purely old-school meets new-school and is dedicated to the education and longevity of professionally-minded unsigned hip hop artists and producers.
Shaun Nicole delivers another event that showcases the best in unsigned hip hop artists and producers from the metro area, along with shedding light on what is up in today’s hip hop culture and the politics around it. This has an the ingredients of a spiritual awakening towards who the best up and comers are in Richmond’s ever-growing underground hip hop scene.
By John Lewis Morgan (onewayrichmond.com)